J Andrew Bird1, Maria Crain2, Pooja Varshney3. 1. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX. Electronic address: drew.bird@utsouthwestern.edu. 2. Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Dallas, TX.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of food allergy panel testing among patients referred to a pediatric food allergy center. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of all new patients seen between September 2011 and December 2012 by 1 provider in a tertiary referral pediatric food allergy center. A cost analysis was performed to calculate the estimated cost of evaluation for patients who have received a food allergy panel. RESULTS: Of 797 new patient encounters, 284 (35%) patients had received a food allergy panel. Only 90 (32.8%) individuals had a history warranting evaluation for food allergy; 126 individuals were avoiding a food based on recommendations from the referring provider and 112 (88.9%) were able to re-introduce at least 1 food into their diet. The positive predictive value of food allergy panel testing in this unselected population was 2.2%. The estimated cost of evaluation for this population was $79,412. CONCLUSIONS: Food allergy panel testing often results in misdiagnosis of food allergy, overly restrictive dietary avoidance, and an unnecessary economic burden on the health system.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of food allergy panel testing among patients referred to a pediatric food allergy center. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of all new patients seen between September 2011 and December 2012 by 1 provider in a tertiary referral pediatric food allergy center. A cost analysis was performed to calculate the estimated cost of evaluation for patients who have received a food allergy panel. RESULTS: Of 797 new patient encounters, 284 (35%) patients had received a food allergy panel. Only 90 (32.8%) individuals had a history warranting evaluation for food allergy; 126 individuals were avoiding a food based on recommendations from the referring provider and 112 (88.9%) were able to re-introduce at least 1 food into their diet. The positive predictive value of food allergy panel testing in this unselected population was 2.2%. The estimated cost of evaluation for this population was $79,412. CONCLUSIONS:Food allergy panel testing often results in misdiagnosis of food allergy, overly restrictive dietary avoidance, and an unnecessary economic burden on the health system.
Authors: Kyla Jade Hildebrand; Elissa Michele Abrams; Timothy K Vander Leek; Julia Elizabeth Mainwaring Upton; Douglas P Mack; Linda Kirste; Christine McCusker; Sandeep Kapur Journal: Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol Date: 2017-02-08 Impact factor: 3.406